Victor Hovland lost us open but found something he needed

Victor Hovland entered Open Sunday at US in Oakmont As the man who seemed most likely to trace the 54 Sam Burns leader and put his name in the great championship history.

27-year-old Norwegian has been in an endless search They feel right. He was at the top of the Golf world when he won the FedEx Cup in 2023 and then tore his shake in search of something better, something cleaner, something that felt more like Victor Hovland. This search led him to the desert. Forever Tinkerer, Hovland continued to change things – from shaky thoughts to coaches – while he tried to find something only he could discover.

That search led him to a Unexpected win in the Valsspar championshipwhere he defeated Justin Thomas despite hitting what he described as “disgusting shots”. But he was leaving the desert. While his shaking still needed training, he was confident that he could play and fight while trying to use that elusive feeling.

In Oakmont, Hovland’s journey found it in quarrel Entering the last round after bold rounds of 71-68-70 to start. That Friday 68 without hovland take “US Open’d” with a double bad scam in No. 2, but respond to run it home and gives yourself a weekend chance in a big first career at a pace that still needs work.

Those first three rounds in Oakmont were a reminder to Victor Hovland that while he is seeking perfection in a game naturally filled with mistakes, his infinite search does not condemn his current goals.

“I know that even if it doesn’t feel good, I can still cross the ball and take the ball there somewhere,” Hovland said on Saturday. “I would like to think that my golf’s IQ is very high, so even if it doesn’t feel good and I’m not comfortable, I can still play the game. I feel like the way I got good at Golf was having something suboptimal I had to play with it. When I was a child, I played with a big slice, and I couldn’t hit anything but I could not hit, but I think, years, no doubt my swinging has been good, I have been hitting much better shots, it’s easier to score, and now when I’m not shaking so well, I still have the ability to get the ball into the hole. “

In US Open, a sport that has become increasingly optimized deals with its original purpose. It is not a test that requires you to be perfect in full flight, but the one who seeks to fight while discovering your imperfections.

Hovland sailed the requests well through 54 holes. But after the pre-par 70 Saturday, Hovland, who Sat three shots back burningshowed his pure golf spirit when asked about his desire to win US Open.

His seemingly researching will always be for more than a trophy case.

“We would all like to win. That is why we practice so much,” Hovland said. “But there is also a deep passion to me that I want to hit the shooting. Like I want to stand up and hit the shooting I’m anticipating. When the ball is not doing it, it bothers me.”

So Hovland reached Oakmont Sunday as the only player in the top 10 places in the chair chart within 15 best in the official Golf rankings. Even without the pace he wants, everything was at the point of Hovland Sunday in Soggy, iconic Oakmont. He had great experience of strife in the championship from the 2022 open championship and the PGA 2023 championship, his iron game had been excellent in three rounds, and he had already sparked the mental hardness required not to melt at Cauldron US Open.

But In an open, chaotic Sunday of the Open Sunday In which conditions changed drastically throughout the round, Victor Hovland was unable to pass the Oakmont final test.

He made bogeys back-back at no. 2 and no. 3. He returned with a bird at no. 5 Before losing shots at No. 8 and No. 9. But even when Hovland fought his driver and lost the putt needed to conquer accurate US test, he still had a chance to hit the gas and steal the trophy, as they also prevented in wet and windy conditions.

Hovland made five first rights to start nine back before losing a 10-leg for par no. 15 to drop two shots behind the drivers. Hovland did not give himself a good look at Birdie in Par-3 16 and looked while his game partner and eventual winner Jj Spaun led PAR-4 17th Green to set a view of the eagle and a two-man manable bird. Drive Hovland, meanwhile, landed to the right. He got up and down for Birdie, but the spaun still led two with a hole to play.

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With the western rain of Pennsylvania that was still falling, the opening of the hovland were broken even money Calling point in his changing victory of life.

Hovland entered the 18th to set the final touches on his third place end and then returned to Spau and smiled.

“That was an impressive guy, Congress,” Hovland said.

While Spaun was prepared for his name to be carved on the US Open trophy, Hovland elaborated for a week that could have been more, but still gave him what he needed.

“I’ve been torn myself a little,” Hovland said on Sunday. “Although I know I have to work on some items and get back where I have been mechanically, but in the meantime, I can still perform at a really high level, and there are many good things. I just got it with me and be a little more loved by myself.”

And with that, Victor Hovland came out to continue his search.